77325-24KARAOKE queen Sarah Covey has warbled her way to the semi-finals of a pub singing contest.

The 18-year-old beat scores of other hopefuls to win the regional heats in the Wannabe karaoke contest run by pub chain Yate's.

Now, she stands the chance of winning £5,000 and an opportunity to record in the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

It all started when Sarah impressed judges with her version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Celine Dion's Think Twice at Yates's in Swindon town centre.

However, Sarah, of White Edge Moor, Liden, admits she had a slight head start over her rivals.

Besides having had singing lessons as a child, she also completed a performing arts course at New College.

The former Dorcan Technology College student's dream is to appear in a West End show.

"I chose Bohemian Rhapsody because I went to see the Queen musical We Will Rock You," she said.

"It's my favourite musical, and I just kept thinking I would love to be up there singing, dancing and performing."

Sarah was cheered on at the regional finals in Guildford by her mum Terri, 47, and dad Steve, 49.

The semi-final is in Bournemouth on May 12.

If successful she will get the chance to sing in front of celebrity voice coach Carrie Grant who tutored Will Young and Charlotte Church at a live final in Yates's in Leicester Square.